Search for a care home

You can search for care homes near you on the NHS website using your postcode or town name.

You'll need to click on the link called 'Visit CQC profile' within each entry to understand the specialist services each home offers such as over 65 years, dementia care and nursing care. This will help you better select an appropriate care home.

Alternatively, you can contact us and we'll send you a paper list of all the care homes in Rochdale borough.

For many people the area where their care home is located is very important.

Here are some things you might want to consider:

Who the GP is - many people are reluctant to change their GP, especially if they've been with them for many years. If a care home is outside of the GP's catchment area, they'll have to register with another GP. However, the care home will be able to do this for you, if needed.

Access to health care - if the person living in the care home has to go to a particular hospital or see a certain specialist often, it's a good idea to think about if they'll be able to attend these appointments easily from where the care home is located.

Friends and family being able to visit regularly and easily - if family members can't visit often due to the location of the care home, it may cause the person in the care home to feel isolated and lonely.

What they're able to do in their spare time - a person living in a care home is able to come and go as often as they please to visit friends, go shopping or attend social activities, as long as their health allows. Picking a location where they're able to do the things they like nearby may be important.

The next step is to find out about the care homes in your preferred areas.

If possible, speak to the person who'll be living in the care home. - make a list of what they consider essential as well as what they consider desirable for their care home. This should help you rule out some of the care homes from your research.

Visiting the care homes you liked from your research should help you make a decision.

Download our care home visit checklist (96kb pdf) - we've created this checklist to help you when you visit a care home. It lists things to look out for, questions you might like to ask and room to write down their answers so you can compare them later on, if needed.

​Once you've decided on a suitable care home, you may wish to consider applying for a place.

1) You'll need to use the contact details on this page to get in touch with Adult Care to request a Care Act assessment to determine eligibility for care and support.

2) You'll be allocated a health or social care practitioner who will contact you to arrange a convenient time to carry out the assessment. They'll also make arrangements with the care home about a suitable admission date.

3) Once you've been admitted we'll work with you to complete a financial assessment to determine how much you may need to contribute towards your care.

Where to get help with choosing a care home

There are a number of organisations who can help you choose a care home.

NHS support:
you may also be eligible to receive part funding for a care home from the NHS through their continuing healthcare package. You'll need to speak to the GP of the person going in to the care home to start the application process.
More about NHS continuing healthcare support.

Report a concern about a care home

Contact our Adult Care service using the contact details on this page.